User:Erisspicer/sandbox

Introduction
Paula and Alexis Fasseas, mother and daughter, are the co-founders of PAWS Chicago. In 1997, when PAWS was founded, there was a large problem with strays in Chicago. In high school, Alexis volunteered at an animal shelter for community service hours and realized that many of the animals were not being taken care of and instead, getting killed. People were giving away their pets to humane societies for many reasons without knowing that they would most likely be killed within the next 24 hours. Paula and her husband decided to educate the public on what was happening within these shelters in order to fix the issue.

History
PAWS Chicago was founded in 1997 by mother and daughter Paula and Alexis Fasseas. They decided to start their own shelter that did not allow the killing of these homeless pets.

On December 1, 2013 Merrick Pet Care and PAWS teamed up. Merrick Pet Care provides food for all of PAWS pets as well as giving each pet that is newly adopted and their owner a supply of food. Merrick Pet Care makes natural and organic food to ensure a healthy lifestyle for pets.

In August 2016, PAWS drove two vans down to Louisiana to rescue animals that may have gotten caught up in the floods from the area. PAWS efforts were focused on pets who were given up by their owners or had already been in local shelters before the flood hit, to make room for the influx of animals from this natural disaster. PAWS partnered with the St. Tammany Parish Humane Society and the Livingston SPCA. PAWS medically treated the animals who were hurt from the flood and after they were cleared, they put them up for adoption.

Awards and Recognition
Awards:

PAWS Chicago has been recognized throughout the community for many years. PAWS received a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator. Less than 1% of charities evaluated by Charity Navigator have ever received a 4-star rating 15 years in a row, indicating that PAWS Chicago outperforms most other charities in America. Charity Navigator rates a charity's performance by their Financial Health and their Accountability & Transparency. Charity Navigator believes that PAWS will continue to efficiently use the support they receive. In November of 2012, Chicago Magazine named PAWS Chicago as one of their “gold standard charities” under their Guide to Charitable Giving in Chicago. The guide is a means of navigating which charities readers should donate to when considering charitable gifting during the holiday season. The charities were ranked by a group philanthropic consultants, professors, and Charity Navigator, a non-profit website that rates the practicality of non-profit organizations on a four-scale rating. In 2003, the Chicago Sun-Times PAWS Chicago won a Chicago Innovation Award. The award goes out to ten businesses in Chicago that have presented successful business developments and innovative marketing techniques. Out of the 130 companies that submitted for the award, PAWS was chosen and became the first non-profit organization to win this award.

Recognitions:

In 2008, Oprah Winfrey visited PAWS Chicago during the filming of a three-part series she was airing on puppy mills. The feature showcased good living environments and lifesaving work, which ultimately helped PAWS put their name on the map across the country. Each year since 1994, Chicago has honored a handful of people whose actions have changed life for the better. In January 2008, PAWS Chicago founder Paula Fasseas was labeled a Transformer by Chicago magazine and honored as Chicago Magazine’s Chicagoan of the Year.

Events
Paws Beach Party

The annual 'PAWS Beach Party' is organized to raise money for its organization. Located on North Avenue Beach and set on Castaways yacht, the party offers raffles, silent auctions, an open buffet and bar, as well as a doggie buffet and “pawdicures” for the pets. PAWS 16th annual Beach Party in 2018 attracted over 500 guests and 125 dogs, raising over $300,000 for the organization. The money raised went towards funding PAWS lifesaving program for homeless cats and dogs in addition to a renovation and expansion at the medical center.

Fur Ball

The Fur Ball is an annual fundraising gala that showcases rescue cats and dogs for adoption. The gala includes a number of activities for the pets to participate in such as buffets and paw-dicures while the humans engaged in live auctions and raffles. In 2017, 800 humans and 200 dogs attended the ball, collectively raising $1.3 million for the organization. In 2013, Smashing Pumpkins co-founder William Corgan and Michelin star awarded chef Curtis Duffy made appearances at the Fur Ball, even curating an event of their own to be auctioned off during the gala.

Paws For A Cause

Northwestern College in Bridgeview, IL hosted a 5K Run/Walk in September 2018 to benefit PAWS Chicago. Dubbed "PAWS for a Cause", the family-friendly event is open to the public and is designed to bring students, alumni, staff and the Bridgeview/Burbank/Bedford Park communities together to raise funds for helpless animals in need.

PAWS Chicago's 5K Walk/Run was named one of Chicago's Top 100 Events in 2016 and 2017, and Top 10 Athletic Events in 2017 by BizBash. In this event, owners and their pets are allowed to participate in a 5K and choose to either walk or run. In addition to the race, there are also events to follow such as food and games.

Holiday Adopt-A-Thon

The Holiday Adopt-A-Thon is a two-day adoption marathon intended to help homeless pets find a home in time for the holidays. The event takes place during the holiday season to reduce the risk of ethnicization of homeless pets in animal shelters during a time of the year when the shelters are shorter-staffed. in 2017, over 100 homeless pets were adopted during the Holiday Adopt-A-Thon.